SFG2940 V1 Republic of Tajikistan Public Disclosure Authorized Nurek Hydropower Rehabilitation Project Environmental and Social Impact Assessment Final Report Public Disclosure Authorized Barqi Tojik Open Joint Stock Holding Company Public Disclosure Authorized Public Disclosure Authorized January, 2017 TABLE OF CONTENTS 1. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ................................................................................................................. 12 2. POLICY, LEGAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE FRAMEWORK ......................................................... 18 2.1. National regulation ................................................................................................................... 18 2.1.1. Environmental protection ................................................................................................ 18 2.1.2. Environmental Impact Assessment procedure ................................................................. 18 2.2. Central Asia water management agreements ......................................................................... 27 2.2.1. Protocol 566 ....................................................................................................... 27 2.2.2. September 19, 1988 Decree ............................................................................................. 28 2.2.3. October 12, 1991 Declaration .......................................................................................... 29 2.2.4. February 18, 1992 Agreement ......................................................................................... 29 2.2.5. September 20, 1995 Nukus Declaration .......................................................................... 29 2.3. International agreements ......................................................................................................... 29 2.4. International standards: World Bank safeguards ................................................................. 32 3. PROJECT DESCRIPTION .................................................................................................................. 34 3.1. Current Nurek HPP description .............................................................................................. 34 3.1.1. General Background ....................................................................................................... 34 3.1.2. Configuration and brief description of the main structures ............................................. 34 3.1.3. Plant general layout ....................................................................................................... 35 3.1.4. HPP main parameters ...................................................................................................... 37 3.1.5. Current operating rules of Nurek HPP ............................................................................. 38 3.1.6. Energy production ....................................................................................................... 46 3.2. The project................................................................................................................................. 48 3.2.1. General description: situation, context and objectives ..................................................... 48 3.2.2. The project ....................................................................................................... 48 3.2.3. Refurbishment project work schedule ............................................................................. 49 3.2.4. Methodology/process ....................................................................................................... 50 3.2.5. Refurbishment project result ............................................................................................ 51 3.2.6. Dam safety evaluation ..................................................................................................... 52 4. BASELINE DATA .............................................................................................................................. 54 4.1. Project area of influence: study areas ..................................................................................... 54 4.1.1. SA01: Nurek HPP and appurtenant structures ................................................................. 54 4.1.2. SA02: Access road ....................................................................................................... 54 4.1.3. SA03: Downstream area .................................................................................................. 55 4.1.4. SA04: Upstream area ....................................................................................................... 55 4.2. Physical environment................................................................................................................ 55 4.2.1. Hydrology ....................................................................................................... 55 4.2.2. Water Quality ....................................................................................................... 59 3 4.3. Biological environment ............................................................................................................. 62 4.3.1. Protected areas ....................................................................................................... 63 4.3.2. Terrestrial flora ....................................................................................................... 66 4.3.3. Terrestrial fauna ....................................................................................................... 67 4.3.4. Aquatic fauna ....................................................................................................... 68 4.4. Human environment ................................................................................................................. 69 4.4.1. Administrative context..................................................................................................... 69 4.4.2. Socio-economic context................................................................................................... 71 4.4.3. Workplace safety ....................................................................................................... 87 4.5. Summary of significant environmental issues ........................................................................ 88 5. ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ........................................................................................................... 89 5.1. Scope ......................................................................................................................................... 89 5.2. Methodology .............................................................................................................................. 89 5.3. Impacts identification and evaluation ..................................................................................... 91 5.3.1. Impact n°I01: Vakhsh River’s downstream flow regime modification ........................... 91 5.3.2. Impact n°I02: Nurek HPP reservoir management level modification.............................. 93 5.3.3. Impact n°I03: Flood risk during refurbishment and operation......................................... 94 5.3.4. Impact n°I04: Refurbishment waste related risks ............................................................ 95 5.3.5. Impact n°I05: Water pollution risk .................................................................................. 96 5.3.6. Impact n°I06: Asbestos risks ........................................................................................... 96 5.3.7. Impact n°I07: Health and safety risks for workers .......................................................... 97 5.3.8. Impact n°I08: Improvement of the health and safety work condition of the workers during operation ..................................................................................................... 101 5.3.9. Impact n°I09: Health and safety risks for communities ................................................. 102 5.3.10. Impact n°I10: Dam safety improvement ........................................................................ 104 5.3.11. Impact n°I11: Increase of the operational issues ........................................................... 104 5.3.12. Impact n°I12: Socio-economical perturbations and benefits ......................................... 105 5.3.13. Impact n°I13: Climate risk assessment .......................................................................... 106 5.3.14. Summary of the project impacts .................................................................................... 106 6. RAPID CUMULATIVE IMPACTS ASSESSMENT ........................................................................ 112 6.1. Objectives ................................................................................................................................ 112 6.2. Scoping: Boundaries Definition ............................................................................................. 112 6.2.1. Geographical Boundary ................................................................................................. 112 6.2.2. Temporal Boundary ..................................................................................................... 112 6.3. Selection of Valued Environmental and Social Components .............................................. 112 6.4. Cumulative Impact Assessment Over Selected VECs.........................................................